Finding a Mentor—or Becoming One—Can Make All the Difference in Your Career (and Your Life)

After finishing my diagnostic radiology residency at Baylor University Medical Center in 2008, I completed a musculoskeletal fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona. One of the textbooks I studied during my residency was authored by Catherine “Cat” Roberts, MD. Cat has authored more articles than I can count and has built a hugely influential career in academic radiology, quality improvement, clinical informatics and as Professor of Radiology in the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine. I had the pleasure to be trained by her during my fellowship.

Since the day I met her, Cat has been my guide and mentor through one major life transition after the next.

The first of these transitions came after I looked at a variety of different practice types and sought Cat’s advice about each. After much thought, I joined a small private practice.

Professionally during this time, I became a managing partner, vice president, oncological imaging leader and the radiologist for an NFL team. Personally during this time, I achieved my lifelong dream of becoming a mother. Unfortunately, I also lost my father and my mother-in-law.

Life never goes on pause while you are trying to build your career. Cat was there for me during the ups and downs, celebrating my personal and professional victories and guiding me during the losses.

Balancing work with life

After more than nine years at the small practice, I made the very tough decision to leave in hopes of finding professional growth while maintaining a better work-life balance. After much thought of where to go next, I made the decision to take a position as a director of oncological imaging at a large outpatient imaging company.

My work during this period was very rewarding, and I met many new colleagues who are now my friends.

However, after a year at this position, it became clear to me that my work-life balance needed adjustment. I reached out to Cat to seek advice on what life was like working as a teleradiologist at vRad. By this time she had made the transition to teleradiology after many years as an on-site, academic radiologist.

All roads led to tele

I had known about vRad and the CMO, Dr. Ben Strong, since the beginning of my radiology training. I knew that if I were to choose teleradiology, vRad would be my top choice because of its good reputation for long-term stability, great leadership, amazing platform and transparency.

Teleradiology, Cat told me, promised a better work-life balance, less stress—and, crucially, a focus on patient care with fewer distractions than could be found in either a private practice or an academic medicine setting.

I felt excited yet hesitant. I feared that joining a practice of 500 teleradiologists would mean disappearing into anonymity—just another name on a report. Plus I would have to leave a familiar setting for the unknown.

Although I felt the fear, I joined vRad in 2018, thanks largely to Dr. Roberts’ nudge. Once here, I quickly learned that my circle of mentors was about to expand. vRad has a wonderful program pairing new radiologists with established volunteer advisors for the incoming radiologists. These advisors answer questions, regularly check in and review your reports for your first three months.

I had the good fortune to have Max Khatibi, MD, as my “buddy,” which is what everyone calls these amazingly helpful advisors. He was and continues to be there whenever I have a question, need advice on the new platform or dictation software—or just needed to get plugged in to the support of my new team. Best of all, I now consider Max a second mentor of mine.

Today I can say that I have never been happier with both my work and my life outside of work.

In fact, I’ve become an unabashed champion not just for teleradiology but also for vRad. This has everything to do with the warm support and mentorship I’ve received within the practice. It’s such a rare thing.

May every radiologist find—or become—a mentor like mine.

 

Learn more about vRad's support services from Dr. Kujak at our latest Virtual Open House.

 

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